A  STATEMENT  OF  FACTS 

CONCERNING  THE 

BLOODY  RIOT  IN  WILMINGTON^  N.C 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 


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A  STATEMENT  OF  FACTS 

CONCERNING  THE 

BLOODY  RIOT  IN  WILMINGTON,  N.  C. 

Of  Interest  to  Every  Citizen  of  the  United  States. 
BY  REV.  J.  ALLEN  KIRK,  D.  D., 

Pastor  of  the  Central  Baptist  Church  of  "Wilmington,  N.  C. 


Bloody  Riot  Perpetrated  upon  the  Helpless  and  Inoffensive 

Negro. 

Wilmington,  JST.  C.,  Thursday,  November  10,  1898. 

It  was  clamored  among'  the  political  campaigners  that 
m  the  eastern  portion  of  North  Carolina,  the  white  people 
were  under  i^egro  rule.  They  took  advantage  of  this 
scarecrow,  and  held  it  up  before  the  white  friends  of  the 
Xtgroin  all  their  political  speeches,  using  also  the  Manly 
article  to  create  anger  among  the  loyal  and  conservative 
white  citizen-  It  is  not  my  motive  to  give  the  nature 
of  the  Manly  article  or  the  number  of  Xegro  officeholders, 
but  to  state  the,  facte  touching  the  riot  above,  named.  It 
is  my  feeling  to  impartially  state  to  white  and  colored 
the  facts  as  I  best  know  them  pertaining  to  the  bloody  riot. 

Ministers  Called  to  Explain. 

After  the  publication  of  the  Manly  article,  and  the 
threats  heaped  upuu  him  on  the  account  of  its  publication, 
and  the  withdrawal  of  its  advertisements  by  its  white  con- 
tributors, and  the  appeal  to  the  Interdenominational  Min- 
isterial Union  to  help  the  enterprise,  as  it  would  be  com- 


pelled  to  die  unless  the  colored  people   would  subscribe 
ard  pay  their  subscriptions  more  readily  than  they  had  in 
the  past.     Being  the  only  daily  paper  in  the  South  and 
enterprise  of  its  kind,  the  Ministerial  Union  promised  to 
ask  their  people  to  subscribe  to  the  paper  and  support  it 
as  an  enterprise  of  our  race,  without  any  thoughts  of  en- 
dorsing the  much  talked  of  article,   and  with  this  view, 
they  published  the  re-solution  asking  the  colored  people 
to  support  the  Record.      The  ministers  being  asked  to 
plain  their  resolution,  drew  up  a  resolution  of  explain* 
and  presented  it  to  the  Messenger,  a  white  paper,  in 
swer  to  their  request,  but  it  seemed  not  to  be  satisfac 
and  they  were  therefore  publicly  assailed  by  the  jour 
of  "Wilmington  to  their  sad  regret  and  misfortune; 
we  believe  that  all  these  steps  were  taken  in  order  to  fur- 
ther political  ends.     There  was  a  meeting  called  on  Wed- 
nesday night,  Xovember  9th,  and  the  Ministers  and  lead- 
ing colored  citizens  were  requested   to  attend  and    they 
attended;  this  meeting  was  white.     They  were  asked  to 
see  to  it  that  Manly  leave  the  City,  the  colored  ministers 
stated  that  they  were  not  concerned  in  Manly's  article,  and 
h<id  never  been.     The  following  extract  is  taken  from  the 
"Wilmington  Messenger,  white,  referring  to 

The  Ministerial  Union,  Colored, 

"Don't  forget  its  members.  The  Record  will  be  dis- 
posed of  and  its  editor  relegated  to  non-residence.  So  let 
it  be  with  the  smart  elect  preachers,  who  composed  the 
Union,  and  endorsed  the  Record.  Let  them  consider  the 
propriety  of  finding  more  congenial  fields  upon  which  to 
pasture.  They  must  quit.  It  might  as  well  be  under- 
sto.  .:  now  as  hereafter.  Resignations  and  non-residence 
wil!  be  enforced." 

There  was  a  request  made  on  the  part  of  the  editor  of 
lie  "Wilmington  daily  Messenger  to  all  of  the  white  min- 
isters of  the  various  denominations  of  Wilmington,  to 
preach  from  a  certain  text  on  a  certain  Sabbath  before 
the  election  and  the  dire  bloody  riot,  which  seemed  to 
agitate  and  move  the  people  to  reek  out  their  sentiments 


3 

coming  from  the  bosom  of  the  editor  and  not  the  text  in 
its  jistical  connection  with  the  scriptures,  and  with  the 
will  of  God.  The  texts  were  as  follows:  Isaiah,  17th 
chapter,  14th  verse — -"And  behold  at  evening  tide  trou- 
ble; before  the  morning  he  is  not.  This  is  the  portion  of 
them  that  spoil  us,  and  the  lot  of  them  that  rob  us."  It 
seems  that  this  text  is  applicable  to  the  Xegroes  in  pro- 
fession, and  the  common  people,  and  whereas  the  Xegoes 
were  "not  robbing  them  of  their  material  goods,  the  text 
points  rather  to  their  political  interest.  The  text  pertain- 
ing to  the  ministers  ami  their  flocks: — Jeremiah,  25th 
chapter,  35th  verse: — "And  the  bhepherds  shall  have  no 
way  to  flee,  nor  the  pi i  of  the  flock  to  escape."     The 

white  ministers  of   W  x~.   C.  carried  their  guns 

in  the  blood y 

Election  Day. 

Tuesday,  Xovember  8ih,  1898.  Perfect  peace  seemed 
to  pervade  but  when  the  sleeping  lion  should  awake  and 
bound  upon  his  prey.  All  the  peaceful  Xegroes  and  white 
people  made  glad  by  the  following  circular: 

To  the  Voters  of  New  Hanover  County. 

Rev.  Dr.  Peyton  H.  Hoge,  in  a  letter  to  the  Governor, 
of  Saturday,  Xovember  5th,  uses  the  following  language: 

"I  have  seen  several  prominent  members  of  the  cam- 
paign committee  and  have  the  positive  assurances  from 
them  that  not  only  is  no  intimidation  contemplated,  but 
that  it  will  be  discountenanced  by  every  means  in  their 
power." 

"If  Xegroes  do  as  Henderson  advised  them:  go  to  the 
polls  and  cast  their  ballots  quietly  and  go  home;  I  have 
no  idea  that  there  will  be  any  disturbance." 

"I  think  all  the  members  of  our  committee  feel  that 

their  honor  is  involved  in  seeing  that  the  agreement  is 

carried  out  in  good,  faith;  and  we  will  certainly  use  all 

.i      efforts  to  secure  that  result,  and  we  have  the  same  promise 

from  prominent  members  of  the  campaign  committee." 

Dr.  Hoe;e  was  one  of  the  committee  who  conferred  with 

0 

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<n 

N 


^. 


the  Governor  and  agreed  upon  the  compromise  which  was 
cordially  and  almost  unanimously  approved  and  ratified 
by  the  merchants  and  lmsiness  men  of  the  city,  and  by 
the  Democratic  campaign  committee. 

The  Governor  has  other  assurances  of  similar  import 
from  all  of  the  committee  that  conferred  with  him.  As 
men  of  honor  they  could  not  do  otherwise. 

A.  E.  HOLTOX, 
Chairman  Republican  State  Ex.  Com. 
CYRUS  THOMPSON, 
Chairman  People's  Party  State  Ex.  Com. 

The  following  circular  was  issued  in  consequence  of  an 
agreement  effected  by  Governor  Russell  and  the  leading 
Democratic  politicians  of  Wilmington,  leading  citizens 
and  business  men:  (The  agreement)  to  put  in  no  county 
Ticket  in  the  field;  no  Xegro  nominees,  but  to  have  only 
the  State,  Congressional  and  Senatorial  tickets. 

"Senator  Pritehard,  Senator  Butler,  Governor  Russell, 
Chairman  Holton  and  Chairman  Thompson  and  Oliver  H. 
Doekery  appeal  to  the  Republicans  and  Populists  of  Xew 
Hanover  County  to  turn  out  and  vote  the  State,  Con- 
gressional and  Senatorial  tickets. 

Conditions  are  such  in  your  county  that  we  join  in  giv- 
ing you  this  advice.  Listen  to  us!  Do  not  encourage  any 
attempt  to  depart  from  the  agreement  made  with  the  mer- 
chants and  business  men.  They  have  taken  down  their 
Legislative  Ticket  for  the  House,  and  have  put  up  their 
two  Representatives.  Let  us  make  no  objections  to  them 
6v  to  their  County  Ticket,  These  merchants  and  business 
men  have  gift-en  their  word  that  there  shall  be  a  free  and 
fair  and  peaceful  election.  Xow  it  is  most  important  to 
yon  that  you  turn  out  and  vote  the  Eusion  Ticket  for 
Judges  and  Solicitor,  for  Congressman  and  for  State  Sen- 
ator. Do  not  listen  to  men  who  seek  to  divide  you  be- 
cause they  themselves  have  personal  grievances  or  disap- 
pointments. Let  every  Republican,  every  Populist,  every 
Independent,  every  man  who  is  opposed  to  the  Democratic 
Machine  and  its  methods,  turn  out  and  put  in  his  vote. 
If  you  fail  to  do  it,  the  consequence  may  be  disastrous. 


Vote  for  the  Fusion  Ticket,  for  Oliver  H.  Dockerjr  for 
Congress,  and  R.  B.  Davis  for  Senate. 

Do  not  hang  around  the  polls  on  Election  Day,  vote 
and  a'o  to  your  homes. 

*  J.  C.  PRITCHARD, 
MABION  BUTLER, 
D.  L.  RUSSELL. 

A.  E.  HOLTOX, 
Chairman  Republican  State  Committee. 
CYRUS  THOMPSON, 
Chairman  Populist  State  Committee. 
OLIVER  II.  DOCKER Y, 

Candidate  for  Congress. 

The  Negroes  were  absolutely  obedient  to  the  above  re- 
quest: seeing  the  mighty  power  that  hung  over  their  homes, 
and  earned  this  order  out  to  the  letter,  consequently  all 
was  peace  on  the  Tuesday  of  the  election.  Why  should 
it  not  be;  when  they  were  completely  le  xf  the  nomi- 

nation and  the  county  ticket  relegated  Ln  the  midst  of 
all  this,  preparations  among  our  supposed  white  friends 
were  being  made  to  strike  the  fearful  blow  upon  the 
Xegroes  and  on  that  night,  if  anything  would  be  started, 
I  did  not  see  it,  but  heard  it  from  an  eye  witness,  that 
there  was  an  anny  of  white  citizens  mobilized  in  the  old 
field  back  of  Tenth  street,  on  Tuesday  night,  waiting  for 
signals  from  the  sentinels.  (Appointed  by  the  citizens.) 
They  walked  their  beats  through  the  City  all  night,  but 
nothing  happened  on  Tuesday  night,  only  a  little  trouble 
in  the  precincts  as  to  ballot  boxes.  Pistols  held  in  the 
faces  of  XegTO  poll  holders  who  had  to  leave  to  save  their 
lives,  for  the  light  was  extinguished  and  they  knew  not 
what  moment  they  would  be  killed.  This  is  from  the 
Deputy  Sheriff  of  the  County  to  me,  he  said  the  poll 
re  r,,ld  him. 

CitUens'  Mass  Meeting,  Wednesday,  November  9,  1598. 

Evening  Dispatch  of  Wilmington,  Xorth  Carolina, 
.  Xegro  editor  Manly  must  leave  the  State. 
Citizen's  Mass  Meeting  give  him  twenty-four  hours  to 


6 

get  out  of  the  limits — Mayor  Wright  and  Chief  Melton 
nmst  resign. 

The  mass  meeting  of  citizens  and  taxpayers  called  for  11 
o'clock  met  promptly  at  that  hour.  There  were  nearly 
2,000  of  Wilmington's  leading  citizens  and  most  promi- 
nent business  men  present  and  from  the  determined  look 
on  the  face  of  ever)-  man  no  one  could  doubt  the  import 
of  the  assemblage.  On  motion,  Col.  A.  M.  Waddell  was 
called  to  the  Chair  and  after  mounting  the  rostrum  called 
the  meeting  to  order.  The  court  room  was  packed  to 
suffocation,  but  as  the  chairman  arose  to  address  the  lneet- 
ing,  the  drop  of  a  pin  could  have  been  beard. 

Col.  Waddell  stated  that  the  first  business  of  the  meet- 
ing was  the  consideration  of  a  resolution  which  he  had  to 
read  to  them. 

Col.  Waddell  then  read  ion  which  space  pre^ 

vent  our  publishing  in  fn  preamble  declared  that 

this  community  would  Ber  ^  ruled    by    men  of 

African  origin;  that  our  eyes  are  open  to  the  fact  that 
ve  must  act  now  or  leave  our  children  to  a  gloomy  fate; 
that  we  propose  in  the  future  to  give  employment  as  far 
as  possible  only  to  white  men. 

Then  followed  the  paragraph  relating  to  the  Manly 
article  which  ve  give  in  full,  as  follows: 

"That-  we  have  been,  in  our  desire  for  harmony  and 
peace,  blinded  both  to  our  best  interests  and  rights.  A 
climax  was  reached  when  the  IsTegro  paper  of  this  city 
published  an  article  so  vile  and  slanderous  that  it  would  in 
most  communities  have  resulted  in  the  lynching  of  the 
editor.  We  deprecate  lynching  and  yet  there  is  no  pun- 
ishment provided  by  the  courts  adequate  for  the  offense. 
We  therefore  owe  it  to,  the  people  of  this  community  and 
this  city,  as  a  protection  against  such  license  in  the  future, 
ih at  the  paper  known  as  the  Record  cease  to  be  published 
and  that  its  editor  be  banished  from  this  community. 

"We  demand  that  he  leave  this  city  within  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  issuance  of  this  proclamation.  Second, 
that  the  printing  press  from  which  the  'Record'  has  been 
issued  be  packed  and  shipped  .from  the  city  without  delay, 
that  we  be  notified  within  twelve  hours  of  the  acceptance 
or  rejection  of  this  demand. 


"If  the  demand  is  agreed  to,  within  twelve  hours,  we 
counsel  forbearance  on  the  part  of  all  white  men.  If  the 
demand  is  refused  or  if  no  answer  is  given  within  the  time 
mentioned  then  the  editor,  Manly,  will  be  expelled  bv 
force." 

Several  amendments  were  offered  and  rejected  as  being 
against  law  and  order.  On  motion,  a  committee  of  five, 
consisting  of  Colonel  Walker  Taylor  and  Messrs.  George 
Eoundtree,  S.  H.  Eishblate,  Iredell  Meares  and  Hugh 
McRae,-was  appointed  to  consider  the  resolution  and  re- 
port to  the  meeting.  During  the  absence  of  the  commit- 
tee loud  calls  were  made  for  Colonel  Waddell,  and  he  re- 
sponded, briefly,  heartily  endorsing  the  resolution.  As  he 
concluded  cheers  were  made  for  our  new  Congressman, 
Hon.  John  D.  Bellamy,  and  he  too,  responded  with  a  rous- 
ing speech..  Others  that  spoke  were  Frank  McNeil,  Esq., 
Judge  Borneman,  Junius  Davis,  Esq.,  and  P.  B.  Manning, 
Esq. 

At  this  juncture  the  committee  returned  and  reported 
that  it  endorsed  the  resolutions  heartily  and  they  were 
then  adopted  by  the  meeting  and  every  man  present 
affixed  his  signature. 

The  committee  also  reported  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  unanimously  adopted  with  rousing  cheers: 

"Resolved,  We,  the  undersigned  citizens  in  mass  meet- 
ing assembled  do  agree  that  Mayor  S.  P.  Wright  and  Chief 
of  Pr.lice  John  R.  Melton  have  shown  their  inability  to 
give  This  city  a  decent  government  and  their  adniiuistra- 
t        lias  not  provided  protection  for  our  citizens,  but  has 
proven  a  menace  to  this  community  and  they  ought 
sign. 
On  motion,  the  chair  appointed  a  committee  of  twenty- 
five  citizens  to  carry  out  the  action  of  the  meeting  and 
-<:>  carry  into  operation  such  other  plans  as  may  come 
up,  such  as    selecting  a  new    Board  of    Aldermen,  etc. 
After  adopting  resolutions  of  minor  importance,  thanking 
the  city  and  foreign  press  and  various  committees,  the  first 
meeting  of  its  kind  ever  h   '  J  in  North  Carolina,  adjourned. 

"Manly  must  leave  h  .n  'row,  noon,  and  Wright  and 
Melton  must  resign.'* 


8 

A  member  of  this  meeting  arose  and  asked  the  question 
of  the  Chairman:  "What  shall  we  do  with  the  ministers?" 
We  know  not  what  the  answer  was,  but  we  know  the 
action,  for  we  are  exiled  and  scattered  over  the  country 
from  our  pulpits  and  our  people,  without  having  time  to. 
get  our  property  or  our  money  or  any  other  means  of 
protection  for  our  families,  but  left  them  in  the  woods 
and  country  places  to  flee  for  our  lives,  hoping  that  we 
might  be  able  to  gather  them  home  at  some  future  time 
and  in  a  place  of  safety.  Special  reference  to  the  Boston 
Negro  was  published  in  the  Evening  Dispatch.  It  was 
supposed  to  have  been  directed  to  J.  Allen  Kirk,  pastor 
of  the  Central  Baptist  Church,  of  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina.  The  reference  reads  as  follows:  "The  Negro 
syho  came  from  Boston  here  to  lead  the  Negroes  in  their 
'.  predations  had  better  take  his  departure  and  shake  the 

-t  of  the  city  from  his  feet." 

But  this  divine  lias  never  taken  any  part  in  politics  and 
} i lead  continually  that  his  people  follow  peace  and  order 
and  even  Avas  a  member  of  the  committee  (the  Chairman) 
that  drew  up  a  resolution  of  prayer  and  fasting  on  the 
part  of  his  people  to>  go  into  effect  Monday,  November 
7th,  prior  to  the  election,  and  the  much  regretted  riot. 
Notwithstanding  that,  he  had  oft  times  invoked  the  blessings 
of  God  upon  the  City  of  Wilmington,  upon  white  and 
colored  and  all  enterprises  carried  on  by  them.  It  seems 
that  the  inevitable  came.  O!  The  poor  helpless  Negro. 
God  help  him,  and  may  all  that  read  the  following  and 
impartial  story,  white  and  black,  pray  that  God  may  stay 
the  strong  arm  of  our  white  brethren  and  all  our  colored 
brethren  from  shedding  blood.  My  heart  is  burdened 
with  the  cares  of  our  race;  and  with  anxiety  I  appeal  and 
ev. treat  our  white  brethren  to  help  us  to  quell  the  many 
disturbances  that  are  now  happening  in  our  country.  With 
impartiality,  love  and  respect  toward  white  and  colored 
I  give  the  following  statements  of  the  Wilmington  Biot 
as  best  known  to  me.  Not  with  the  intention  of  moving 
the  passions  of  white  or  colored  men,  but  that  I  may  pre- 
vent exaggerated  stories  from  being  heaped  upon  the  com- 
munity or  upon  the  country. 


nesdav  there  was  a  great  Jubilee  march  by  the 
Democrats  through  the  City,  probably  five  hundred  in 
ber,  and  report  after  report  could  be  heard  from  their 
The  cheers  and  loud  hurrahs  and  shrieks  in 
streets  were  enough  to  intimidate  and  demoralize  all  geao©- 
ful  citizens  and  to  send  fear  and  terror  *to  the  hearts  of 
the  Negroes  inhabiting  the  City  of  "Wilmington.  But  it 
cleared  away  and  we  thought  all  was  over  and  Dr.  Kirk 
bong  at  Major  "Walkers,  whose  wife  receiving  a  telephone 
that  the  whites  were  gathering  around   Gas  ireet  in 

great  numbers  with  guns  and  arms  of  various  kinds  and 
advised  her  not  to  sleep  that  night,  but  to  keep  her  eyes 
open.  The  Rev.  started  home  to  see  about  his  family  and 
as  he  got  to  Tanning  Street  the  firing  began ;  not  knowing 
the  nature  of  it  he  sends  for  his  family  and  he  and  his 
family  lodged  in  the  suburbs  of  the  City  that  night.  Re- 
turning home  the  next  morning  he  arose  from  the  break- 
fast table  and  went  to  see  what  the  signs  of  the  times  were. 
He  saw  a  young  man  rushing  by  on  his  wheel  whom  he 
called  to  and  asked  what  the  trouble  was,  he  said  they 
were, all  gathering  at  the  Armory  on  Market  Street,  pre- 
paring to  burn  the  Record.  Rev.  Kirk  started  for  a  car- 
riage to  remove  his  family  but  they  were  then  coming  and 
he  took  his  family  to  the  suburbs  of  the  City,  hiding  in 
the  Colored  Cemetery  until  the  disturbances  of  the  day 
were  quite  over;  having  messengers  to  go  back  and  forth 
to  bring  him  the  news  of  all  that  was  done.  This  he  kept 
up  until  the  chief  fighting  was  over.  They  marched  down 
to  the  Love  and  Charity  Hall,  went  in,  threw  out  the  press 
into  the  street  and  The  building  burned  down.  Then  they 
marched  to  Rev.  I.  Allen  Kirk's  house,  pastor  of  the  Cen- 
tial  Baptist  Church,  and  the  Regulators  lined  up  in  front 
of  the  parsonage,  while  two  came  to  the  door  and  knocked 
for  entrant  .  but  tiny  were  told  that  he  and  his  family 
had  gone.  They  went  from  there  across  the  railroad  into 
what  is  known  a-  J  'arktown  and  Brooklyn;  they  had  sent 
a  committee  to  remove  all  the  white  women  and  their  child- 
ren down  town,  whore  they  had  prepared  a  guard  to  keep 
them  secure.  They  marched  through  the  streets  protected 
by  these   military  and  citizen  regulators,  perfectly  safe. 


10 

it  was  a  great  sight  to  see  them  marching  from  death,  and 
the  colored  women,  colored  men,  colored  children,  colored 
enterprises  and  colored  people  all  exposed  to  death.  Fir- 
ing began,  and  it  seemed  ]ike  a  mighty  battle  in  war  time. 
The  shrieks  and  screams  of  children,  of  mothers,  of  wives 
were  heard,  sncli  as  caused  the  blood  of  the  most  inhuman 
person  to  creep.  Thousands  of  women,  children  and  men 
rushed  to  the  swamps  and  there  lay  upon  the  earth  in  the 
cold  to  freeze  and  starve.  The  woods  were  filled  with 
colored  people.  .  The  streets  were  dotted  with  their  dead 
bodies.  A  white  gentleman  said  that  he  saw  ten  bodies 
lying  in  the  undertakers  office  at  one  time.  Some  of  their 
bodies  were  left  lying  in  the  streets  until  up  in  the  next 
day  following  the  riot.  Some  were  found  by  the  stench 
and  miasma,  that  came  forth  from  their  decaying  bodies 
under  their  houses.  Every  colored  man  who  passed 
through  the  streets  had  either  to  be  guarded  by  one  of 
the  crowd  i  i  have  a  paper  (pass)  giving  him  the  right  to 
pass  ..lured  men  at  the  cotton  press  and  oil  mills 

were  ordered  not  to  leave  their  labor  but  stop  there,  while 
i  wives  and  children  were  shrieking  and  crying  in  the 
midst  of  the  flying  balls  and  in  sight  of  the  cannons  and 
Gatling  gun.  All  the  white  people  had  gone  out  of  that 
part  of  the  City,  this  army  of  men  marched  through  the 
streets,  swor  ;  ckled  to  their  sides,  giving  the  command 
to  fire.  ;  31-  iod  at  their  labor  wringing  their  hands  and 

weeping  they  dare  not  move  to  the  protection  of  their 

homes.  :  i  then  when  they  passed  through  the  streets 

had  :  '  Id  up  their  hands  and  be  searched.  The  little 
white  boys  of  the  city  searched  them  and  took  from  them 
every  mean  defence,  and  if  they  resisted,  they  were 

shot.  down.  From  an  eye-witness  and  a  reliable  colored 
lady,  fr  em  York,  it  was  stated  that  they  went  into 

a  colored  man's  house,  he  sitting  at  the  fire,  they  thought 
he  fired  a  shot;  he  ran,  they  shot  him  down,  then  took  up 
a  stick  of  wood  and  bursted  his  brains  out ;  then  they  went 
on  firing,  it  seems,  at  every  living  Negro,  killing  a  great 
many  of  them;  searching  everyone  they  could  get  hold 
of;  this  went  on  all  day  and  night,  more  or  less.  The  city 
was  under  militarv  rule;  no  Xegro  was  allowed  to  come 


11 

into  the  city  without  being  examined  or  withouj 
through  with  his  boss,  for  whom  he  labored.  (  olorad 
women  were  examined  and  their  hats  taken  ofT  u  •,  search 
was  made  even  under  tlieir  clothing.  They  went  from 
house  to  house  looking  for  Negroes  that  they  considered 
offensive;  took  arms  they  had  hidden  and  killed  them  for 
the  least  expression  of  manhood.  They  gathered  around 
colored  homes,  firing  like  great  sportsmen  firing  at  rabbits 
in  an  open  field  and  when  one  would  jump  his  man,  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  shots  would  be  turned  loose  upon  him. 
His  escape  was  impossible.  One  fellow  was  walking  along 
a  railroad,  ami  they  shot  hii  my  provoca- 

ti  u.      l\    is  said  lay  upon 

tin  street  dead  and  dying,  while  uafi  eirs  of  their  race 
by  helpless  and  unable  to  do  them  any  good  or 
their  families.  Negro  stores  were  closed  and  the  owners 
thereof  driven  out  of  the  city  and  even  shipped  away  at 
the  point  of  the  gun.    ' 

Some  of  the  churches  were  search  e<  i  for  ammunition,  and 
cannons  turned  toward  the  door  in  the  attitude  of  blowing 
up  the  church  if  the  pastor  ■  did  not  open  them 

that  they  might  go  thron  lay,  November  13th, 

while  the  funeral  of  a.  lieen:  ainister  was  going  on  in 
Central  Baptist  Church,  of  winch  Dr.  J.  Allen  Kirk  is 
p;.stor,  they,  thinking  the  pastor  was  preaching,  sur- 
rounded the  church  it  is  supposed  in  order  to  capture  him 
when  he  came  out.  Saturday,  previous  to  this,  they  went 
around  to  the  colored  ministers  and  asked  them  what  they 
intended  to  preach  on  Sunday. 

This  riot  not  only  touched  the  Negro,  but  it  touched 
the  Republican  party,  for  it  compelled  the  Republican 
Mayor,  Chief  of  Police,  their  Aldermen,  their  policemen, 
and  all  to  resign  their  offices  and  be  sent  away  from  the 
city;  that  is  to  say,  the  Mayor  and  other  prominent  white 
leaders.  It  is  supposed  that  John  C.  Dancy  is  in  danger 
ilmington,  N.  C. 

White  ministers  earned  their  guns  to  kill  Negro  Chris- 
ad  sinners.     The  mob  took  the  leading  colored  -min- 
and  compelled  them  to  go  around  the  city  with  them 
ask  the  colored  people  to  be  obedient  to  the  white 


12 

people  and  go  in  their  homes  and  keep  qniet.  This  was 
a  great  humiliation  for  us  and  a  shame  upon  our  denomi- 
nations; and  after  all  this  some  of  them  were  compelled 
to  leave  the  city. 

Dr.  J.  Allen  Kirk's  Escape. 

When  he  left  the  city  with  his  wife  and  little  Mabel 
Stitt  following  him  in  tears,  there  was  a  fusillade  of  balls 
flying  abroad  in  the  city;  he  caught  up  a  delivery  wagon, 
put  his  family  in  it  and  insisted  that  he  drive  them  to  the 
ccuntry,  which  he  did,  and  they  went  in  hiding  in  the 
swamps  below  the  Colored  Cemetery. 

Mrs.  J.  Allen  Kirk  a  Heroine. 

As  Mrs.  Kirk  stood  in  the  Colored  graveyard  of  Wil- 
mington, ]NT.  C,  with  her  little  niece  Mabel,  daughter  of 
the  deceased  pastor  of  Zion  Wesley  Church  of  Philadel- 
phia, Penna.,  by  her  side,  and  her  husband  before  her, 
the  guns  roaring  around  her,  like  in  a  mighty  battle,  she 
saw  that,  her  husband  would  not  leave  her,  and  said  to 
him,  "Mr.  Kirk,  escape  for  your  life,  you  cannot  carry 
me  with  you,  perhaps  they  won't  kill  me,  if  they  do  I 
will  die;  you  go!  Go!  Mr.  Kirk."  She  is  a  great  and 
loving  wife. 

Dr.  J.  Allen  Kirk  was  determined  not  to  get  out  of 
reach  of  the  riot,  until  he  could  get  the  whole  story,  con- 
sequently he  had  friends  who  went  back  and  forth  and 
brought  him  the  news  of  the  disturbances  in  the  city. 
Learning  that  they  had  compelled  Manly  to  leave  the 
city,  he  got  on  a  boat,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  tears  of 
hi?  wife  and  niece  and  farewell  kisses,  he  sailed  down  the 
creek  and  got  off  and  waded  the  swamp  and  went  through 
the  wood  and  by-paths,  nine  miles  from  the  city.  And 
still  he  had  the  news  brought  to  him,  even  until  he  took 
his  leave,  Sunday  'evening,  November  13th,  from  Castle 
Haynes,  nine  miles  from  Wilmington.  Before  leaving 
home,  he  called  the  family  with  whom  he  and  his  wife 
and  little  niece  were  stopping,  around  the  family  altar  and 
placed  them   and  himself  in  the  hands  of  God  for  pro- 


13 

teetion.     He  bought  his  ticket  for  "WeldoB,  N~-  C,  with 

the  intention  of  going  much  farther.  When  he  boarded 
the  train  lie  entered  the  smoker,  and  there  found  that 
Regulators  were  on  board  the  train  and  spotted  him  at 
once.  They  began  to  curse  with  refernce  to  him  and  to 
make  great  threats.  He  determined  to  try  them  to  see 
if  they  would  do  him  bodily  harm.  When  the  train 
stopped,  at  a  couple  of  stations  ahead,  he  got  up,  appa- 
rently to  go  out;  as  soon  as  he  arose  they  followed  to  be 
sure  that  he  did  not  get  out  of  their  sight;  he  passed  into 
the  first  class  ear  and  they  watched  him  through  the  glass 
door.  About  this  time  the  train  was  ready  to  stop  at 
another  station,  and  Lawyer  Moore,  colored,  of  Wilming- 
ton, X.  C.j  stepped  on  board  the  train;  seeing  Dr.  Kirk, 
and  he  seeing  him,  could  tell  by  each  other's  expression 
that  serious  danger  and  trouble  were  aboard  the  train,  we. 
therefore,  refrained  speaking  to  each  other,  or  acknowl- 
edging that  we  knew  each  other.  When  he  boarded  the 
train,  they  spotted  him,  and  considered  that  they  had  two 
that  they  would  manage  to  suit  their  own  ideas  that  night. 
Lawyer  Moore  was  to  get  off  at  Wilson,  X.  C,  and  in 
fact  he  did  get  off  but  was  compelled  to  return  to  the  car. 
This  completely  unstrung  the  most  pitiful  colored  lawyer, 
for  he  had  heard  their  threats,  their  determination  to  re- 
move him  from  the  earth,  or  to  prevent  him  from  bother- 
ing them  again.  In  some  way  or  other,  when  he  came 
back  into  the  car,  T)r.  Kirk  said  he  knew  why  he  had 
come  back,  to  appear  ignorant  of  the  cause,  and  to  draw 
out  the  Regulators,  that  sat  gazing  upon  both  of  us  like 
a  lion  watching  his  prey.  He  asked  Lawyer  Moopre  if  he 
was  not  to  stop  at  Wilson.  He  said,  "yes;"  then  he  asked 
him  where  he  was  going  now.  He  said  that  he  did  not 
know  and  that  he  had  no  money  to  go  anywhere,  but  he 
n:  ought  he  would  go  as  far  as  Rocky  Mount  if  the  con- 
ductor would  let  him.  Dr.  Kirk  said,  in  order  to  draw 
out  the  Regulators  and  see  what  they  meant  to  do,  per- 
haps some  of  these  white  gentlemen  will  give  you  the 
money  to  go  as  far  as  Rocky  Mount.  Then  they  began 
to  curse  and  swear  and  said  they  would  rather  send  him 
down  to  hell,  calling  him  all  manner  of  names,  than  to 


14 

give  him  his  fare  to  Rocky  Mount.  When  the  train  blew 
for  the  station,  the  Regulators  passed  into  the  first  class 
car  to  consult;  the  porter  passed  out  of  the  door  and  ieft 
it  ajar.  Lawyer  Moore  leaped  from  the  car  and  dashed 
through  the  wood,  while  the  train  was  in  motion,  thereby 
escaping;  but  the  train  was  stopped  and  they  went  out 
t?  look  for  him,  but  he  had  gone.  Then  they  got  back 
in  the  car;  we  had  but  a  short  distance  to>  go  before  we 
reached  Rocky  Mount.  And  they  began  to  watch  Dr. 
Kirk  very  closely,  with  what  intention  the  Dr.  could  not 
tell,  but  he  thought  and  felt  that  it  was  as  serious  as 
death.  Before  the  train  stopped,  it  seems  that  the  con- 
ductor must  have  told  them  that  his  ticket  was  for  Wel- 
don,  and  that  he  would  have:  to<  be  there  awhile  and  it 
was  not  necessary  to  disturb  him  on  the  train.  This  is 
conjecture.  Dr.  Kirk  became  very  uneasy  and  prepared 
to  go  out ;  he  got  a  lunch,  hired  a  carriage  and  rode  all 
that  night  through  the  storm  and  reached  Whitaker,  X. 
C.  next  morning  and  boarded  a  freight  and  came  on  to 
Petersburg,  Ya. ;  he  promised  his  wife  before  he  left  that 
he  would  send  her  a  telegram  (which  was  a  sign)  that 
next  morning  from  Richmond,  Ya.,  if  he  got  there,  and 
if  she  received  no  telegram  it  was  a  sign  that  he  was  dead. 
He  could  not  reach  Richmond,  he  therefore  wrote  a  mes- 
sage and  gave  it  to  a  colored  gentleman  at  Whitaker,  N. 
C,  insisting  upon  liim  to  be  sure  and  send  it,  not  stating 
that  he  was  in  North  Carolina.  This  shows  the  complete 
organic  strength  of  this  most  regretful  and  dreadful  move- 
ment going  on  in  North  Carolina.  The  telegraph,  the 
telephone,  and  even  it  seems  the  very  railroad  train  knows 
hew  to  move  against  the  Negro  in  this  matter  and  the 
exiled  ones,  either  colored  or  white,  for  both  were  shipped 
from  Wilmington  and  were  kept  going  out  of  the  state. 
It  is  as  hard  to  get  out  of  the  State  as  it  was  to  pass  the 
ruffians  at  three  Eastern  Gates,  as  you  travel  through  the 
East.  We  are'  widows'  sons.  Lord,  God,  is  there  no 
help  for  us.  Dr.  Kirk  left  his  wife  in  a  country  hut  in 
the  swamps  of  North  Carolina,  sleeping  on  a  pallet  wait- 
ing to  hear  from  him;  and  he,  a  minister  of  the  gospel; 
honored  and  respected  by  black  and  white  throughout  the 
country  as  far  as  is  known  to  himself  and  others. 


15 

He  appeals  in  the  name'  of  humanity  that  the  lives  of  the 
citizens  of  these  United  States  be  protected,  let  them  be 
white  or  black;  for  we  all  fight  and  die  for  the  same 
country  and  her  flag.  Extend  to  us  the  hand  of  help! 
Give  us  the  strong  grip  of  the  lion!  Lift  this  dark  and 
oppressed  race  from  a  dead  level  of  sore  affliction  to  a 
living  perpendicular  of  consideration  in  the  eyes  of  this 
nation.  Not  from  a  political  standpoint,  but  an  humane, 
recognizing  us  as  worthy  your  protection  if  nothing  more. 
The  above  is  a  limited  sketch  of  the  troubles  in  Wil- 
mington, X.  0.  The  entreaty  is  to  move  the  feeling  of 
those  who1  may  read  them.  It  is  not  to  stir  up  passion, 
but  pity.  It  is  not  to  make  enemies,  but  friends.  It  is 
not  from  the  heart  of  an  evil  thinker,  but  one  that.prayeth 
that  God  may  revolutionize  the  fearful  sentiment  of  the 
South,  and  inspire  sympathy  and  pity  in  the  hearts  of  our 
white  friends.  f<  r  good  to  our  race.  The  summary  of 
the  situation:  Evening  Dispatch,  of  Wilmington,  X. 

O.j  published  Friday  evening,  November  11,  1898,  states 
tli at  a  correct  list  of  the  fatalities  will  never  be  published, 
but  there  were  many  men  wounded  as  well  as  killed; 
Negroes  and  some  whites.  Says  the  Dispatch,  in  the  same 
issue,  "A  detailed  account  of  the  trouble  yesterday  will 
never  be  given — that  is  a  correct  statement — as  it  was 
impossible  in  the  excitement  to  get  at  the  details  or  to 
recollect  them;  and  the  number  of  Negroes  killed  and 
wounded  will  brobably  never  be  kno  An  eye  wit- 

ness says  that  she  believes  there  v  ore  than  one  hun- 

\  died  destroyed  in  the  said  conflict.  ]  h*.  Kirk  entreats  the 
Negro  race  to  refrain  from  threat-  and  highhanded  talk- 
ing, and  loud  and  boisterous  conduct  in  the  streets.  Be 
considerate  in  all  they  do.  Conduct  themselves  as  gentle- 
men and  ladies,  and  try  by  all  means  to  keep  the  peace 
that  is  necessary  to  our  existence  in  this  country.  Ever 
trusting  God,  with  all  their  hearts,  leaning  not  unto  their 
own  understanding,  but  in  all  their  ways  acknowledging 
God  and  He  will  direct  our  paths.  Amen. 

It  i&  generally .  supposed  by  the  better  white  citizens, 
that  the  Negroes  who  suffer  at  the  hands  of  these  atro- 


16 

cious  mobs,  are  of  the  lower  or  vicious  class  of  our  race, 
but  in  the  case  of  Wilmington,  X.  C,  the  reverse  is  the 
truth.  lor  the  colored  citizens  of  Wilmington  were  pro- 
gressive and  enterprising-  and  were  characterized  by  their 
endeavor  to  live  as  worthy  citizens.  They  are  property 
holders,  averaging  from  five  to  forty  thousand  dollars,  re- 
spectively. From  their  ranks  were  furnished  teachers, 
lawyers,  physicians,  clergymen,  merchants  and  business 
men.  The  intellectuality  of  the  colored  citizens  is  beyond 
the  average,  in  so  much  that  it  has  been  recognized  by 
the  conservative  white  people  of  the  city  and  State.  The 
pastors  of  the  colored  churches  wore  recognized  by  white 
and  colored  as  the  most  able  divines  that  ever  stood  in  the 
pulpits  of  "Wilmington.  The  membership  of  the  various 
(1;  nominations  loved  and  respected  their  pastors,  because 
of  their  ability  to  lead  them  in  truth  and  right.  There 
was  a.  great  lamentation  heard  throughout  the  city  when 
the  mob  got  hold  of  some  of  the  leading  pastors  and  took 
them  from  their  members.  Their  shrieks  could  be  heard 
across  the  city  in  exclamations  like  these:  O!  0!  My  God! 
My  (rod!  Where  have  they  taken  our  pastor! — from  men. 
and  women. 

The  white  people  of  Wilmington  intended  to  remove 
ali  the  able  leaders  of  the  colored  race,  stating  that  to  do 
so  would  leave  them  better  and  obedient  servants  among 
the  .Negroes:  and  all  the  better  class  of  the  colored  citi- 
zens were  driven  from  the  city,  showing  to  the  world  that 
they  were  not  after  the  criminal  and  ignorant  class  of 
Xegroes,  but  the  professional  and  business  men.  The 
whites  claim  that  Dr.  I.  8.  Lee.  I).  D..  Rev.  Dr.  J.  Allen 
Kirk,  ami  lawyer  W-  E.  Henderson  were  the  strong  - 
forces  at  the  head  of  their  race  in  the  city.  These  and 
many  others  with  them  were  driven  and  sent  away  from 
the  city. 

This  postscript  is  to  show  to  the  white  and  colored  peo- 
ple of  these  United  States  and  the  world,  that  the  decent 
families  of  our  race  have  been  assailed  and  routed  like 
beasts  from  their  God  given  positions  as  leaders  of  their 
race. 


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